You throw the ball. You catch the ball. You hit the ball…Of course, baseball fans know that this line from Bull Durham is far from true, part of the humor of the movie and a huge part of the fun of the game. This blog is a space to talk about baseball, being a baseball fan, all of those things that make the game fun and the Angels, because they make baseball fun for me.

Weaver Continues to Dominate as the Angels Bring Their Losing Streak to a Halt

What’s what? Oh. That. Why, yes, that is a lit halo to the right there. *beams* Jered Weaver pitched a complete game shut out tonight to lead the Angels to victory over the A’s. With a record of 6 and 0 in the first 23 games of the Angels season, Weave now holds the franchise record for wins at this point in the season and is one of only four pitchers in Major League Baseball to go 6 and 0 in March and April.

I snapped the photo of the halo as we exited the game, having decided on a whim to catch the next Weaver start. Good decision. We managed to get to the game and to our seats just in time for first pitch, a rare feat indeed on a weeknight, and what a game. Weaver, of course, was very much on his game – ten strikeouts and only 1 walk. He did give up seven hits – three of them to Coco Crisp who really had a great game – but that is where the rest of the Angels came in, preserving Weaver’s shutout and proving that the poor fielding of the Red Sox series was nothing more than a really bad four days.

Peter Bourjos, Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells all had great catches in the outfield. Jeff Mathis and Erick Aybar picked off Crisp at second on an attempted steal that saw Aybar sticking to Crisp like a burr and applying the tag as he overslide the base slightly. Aybar had another fantastic play, fielding the ball well onto the grass and executing a perfect leaping throw to first base just in time to throw out Daric Barton and end the 8th inning…okay, actually the Angels benefitted from the umpire’s angle on that call. Seen from another angle, Barton was just barely safe, but it was a really close play and bad umpire calls will certainly cut both ways over the course of a season – see previous post.

And the bats decided to pay a visit again! Everyone hit tonight except for Jeff Mathis and Torii. Poor Torii. He usually heats up with the weather so April is not his best month to begin with and, after last season, I just plain think he’s trying too hard. I’m sure his bat will not remain silent for very long. Wells singled, Alberto Callaspo doubled and then Howie Kendrick doubled to bring them both home in the bottom of the second inning to give Weave early run support. Timely hits by Bourjos, Aybar and Bobby Abreu provided additional runs.

All in all, it was a fantastic game for the whole team and the perfect cure for the Red Sox blues…until we visit Fenway next month where, hopefully, we can devise an even better cure, like winning a few games…but I digress. Even the Angels fans rocked this game. I am sitting here sipping hot tea to soothe a throat happily hoarse from cheering as I type this. Seth and I sat in the front of the Right Field Pavillion this evening and right field fans are usually loud and enthusiastic but tonight, everything was amplified and we treated the players to a cheering, yelling, clapping, sign waving frenzy of support. Asked at the end of his post game interview why he was pitching so well this season, Weaver first credited the rest of the team and then said “Maybe it’s all of these great Angels fans who come out and cheer for us.” And mentioned that the crowd cheering his name really pumped him up. How sweet is that? Lights out pitcher and great with the fans to boot.

Here are some photos I took of the game including my view from left center (4 rows behind the wall):

Peter Bourjos and Vernon Wells discussing the catch Bourjos just made in center:

Good Angels game for sure!. My poor A’s… GRR!
I love the Halo pic btw!
Weaver is a serious AL west nightmare, and to think we gotta face him at least 2 to 3 more times, *ouch*
Good AL west baseball though, a blast to watch. Ya shoulda held up a sign with your blog addy on it! Ive got mlb tv. I coulda froze the frame and shot a pic of it to ya. Anyway, glad ya had a great time.
Jonhttp://invariablybaseball.mlblogs.com/

Jeff – He really is sick and just that much better to watch at the stadium where you can really appreciate that long, goofy, deceptive delivery.
Mark – Cool! It fun, one of the few remaining features from the original stadium.
Jane – Yeah, just a little help from Weaver, he he. Thanks!
Catherine – He was just on fire tonight all of the sudden so maybe we’re getting there. So nice to see a smiling, bouncy Torii for the first time in a few games.
Jon – Thanks! It was a fun game all around. It looks like between your guys and my guys, the AL West is going to be the same tight race it usually is this season, despite what the critics and Rangers think. I would feel weird holding up a sign for the blog. Any sign I hold up will be for the team.
Mike – Thanks Mike! It was a lot of fun and boy do I hope so too.
— Kristen

The long, loopy delivery is very Weaver-esque indeed. I still remember him in a Redbirds hat, trying to stay warm at the ballpark while watching his brother blow Mets and Tigers away at Busch in ’06. He sure has come a long (and better than his brother) way!
–Jeff

Jeff – Little did anyone know at the time that Jeff Weaver’s kid brother was a future beast, because what are the odds? I love the loopy delivery and can see how it would be really tough on batters.
KristenThis is a very simple game…

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